Darjeeling Tea Garden Bonus Dispute: GTA Leadership Presses for 20% Bonus Ahead of Festive Season

KalimNews | Kalimpong | August 18, 2025 : In a significant political intervention aimed at addressing the long-standing concerns of tea garden workers in the Darjeeling Hills, Gorkhaland Territorial Administration (GTA) Chief Executive Anit Thapa, accompanied by GTA Sabha Deputy Chairman Rajesh Chowhan, met West Bengal Labour Minister Moloy Ghatak in Kolkata today. The leaders submitted a memorandum urging the state government to ensure an amicable resolution to the recurring annual dispute over bonuses in Darjeeling tea gardens and pressed for the consideration of a 20% bonus for the workers.

The memorandum highlighted that every year, just before the Puja season, disputes over bonus payments create uncertainty and unrest among the workers, who rely heavily on this income to celebrate the festival with dignity. Thapa underlined that despite being the backbone of the globally renowned Darjeeling tea industry, workers are compelled to struggle year after year for their rightful dues due to the absence of a permanent solution.

This year, garden workers have demanded a 20% bonus, citing the rising cost of living and their indispensable contribution to sustaining Darjeeling’s premium tea industry. The management, however, has initially offered 13%, which was later raised to 16% after government intervention. The disagreement has already sparked protests, including strikes and a 12-hour road blockade that disrupted emergency services and tourism in the region.

Thapa appealed to the state labour department to urgently initiate tripartite talks involving management, trade unions, and government representatives. He stressed that a fair and time-bound settlement would help preserve peace, harmony, and productivity in the industry. Expressing confidence in the leadership of the state government, he urged swift intervention to safeguard the rights of the workers, many of whom earn a daily wage of barely ₹250 — among the lowest in the country.

Workers’ unions across political lines have extended support to the demand. The Hill Terai Dooars Plantation Workers’ Union (HTDPWU), backed by Thapa’s Bharatiya Gorkha Prajatantrik Morcha (BGPM), has been vocal about broader labour issues beyond bonuses. These include timely payment of wages, deposit of Provident Fund (PF) dues, gratuity entitlements, and even basic necessities such as umbrellas and raincoats for workers. The BGPM has also advocated for land rights for tea garden residents.

Meanwhile, other influential unions such as the Centre of Indian Trade Unions (CITU) and its Darjeeling Zilla Chia Kaman Mazdoor Union (DZCKMU) have accused the state government of failing to apply sufficient pressure on tea companies to disburse the full 20% bonus. They warned that without timely intervention, the situation could escalate once again, as it did last year.

On November 16, 2024, at a tripartite meeting in Siliguri, Labour Minister Moloy Ghatak had assured that the pending bonus amounts would be cleared within a fortnight. However, reports indicate that several hill tea estates have yet to settle those dues, fuelling apprehensions of a repeat deadlock this year.

The ongoing dispute not only threatens industrial peace but also affects the prized first flush plucking season in Darjeeling, which produces the most premium and profitable tea for international markets. With 87 estates in the hills producing Darjeeling Tea, the stakes remain high for both workers and the industry at large.

As the festive season approaches, all eyes are now on the outcome of negotiations and the government’s intervention, which will determine whether the workers’ demand for a fair 20% bonus is met or whether the hills face yet another season of agitation.